PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> Cathy: ON TONIGHT'S SHOW WE'LL UPDATE DUTY DROUGHT CONDITIONS FOR FARMERS WITH MINNESOTA AG COMMISSIONER THOM PETERSEN, MAYOR MELVIN CARTER IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE CITY'S REPARATIONS COMMISSION AND LARRY FITZGERALD ASSESSES THE TWINS' CHANCES TO REMAIN IN FIRST PLACE AFTER THE ALL-STAR BREAK THIS WEEKEND.

♪♪ >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

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AND EDUCATION MINNESOTA, THE VOICE FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> Cathy: IN THE NEXT HOUR WE'LL VISIT WITH ST. PAUL MAYOR MELVIN CARTER ABOUT THE CITY'S REPARATIONS COMMISSION, EXAMINE SEVERAL OF LAST WEEK'S US SUPREME COURT DECISIONS, SHELETTA BRUNDIDGE HAS AN ESSAY FOR US, AND WE'LL HIGHLIGHT A NEW STATE LAW OFFERING FREE COLLEGE TUITION TO SOME MINNESOTA STUDENTS.

>> Eric: AND WE START TONIGHT WITH A LOOK AT THE STATE'S WORSENING DROUGHT FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR THURSDAY'S U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR MAP SHOWS THE AMENDMENT OF THE STATE NOW IN DROUGHT AND THE AREAS EXPERIENCING SEVERE DROUGHT ALSO INCREASED.

WE SHOULD NOTE THAT THE RAINFALL ON THE FOURTH OF JULY IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MOST RECENT DATA BUT THE IMPACT OF THAT MOISTURE LIKELY IS MINOR.

SO HOW IS THIS WIDENING DROUGHT AFFECTING FARMERS ACROSS THE STATE?

AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER THOM PETERSEN JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT IT.

YOU'VE BEEN OUT THIS WEEK IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA, WHAT IS THE IMPACT?

>> YEAH, IT'S ALWAYS TOUGH THIS TIME OF THE YEAR IF WE DON'T GET RAIN AND SO OUR CROPS AND A LOT OF PARTS OF THE STATED HAVE REALLY SUFFERED.

AS YOU SAID 98%.

STATE IS ABNORMALLY DRY, OVER 50% OF THE STATE IS IN A MODERATE DROUGHT AND WHAT THEY WATCH ON OUR SCALE THE SEVERE DROUGHT WE CREEPED UP AND DOUBLED OUR SIZE IN THAT.

REALLY A LOT OF THE FARMS AROUND THE CITIES HERE REALLY DRYING UP.

AND OUR FIRST CONCERN REALLY IS FOR OUR CATTLE FARMERS BECAUSE THAT REALLY RELY ON THE PASTURE, HAY, AND WE START TO SEE THAT DRY UP AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE GREAT SAFETY NET IN THE FARM BILL AS MUCH AS SOME OF OUR CORN AND SOYBEAN FARMERS.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, YOU DRIVE AROUND THOUGH AND THE FIELDS DON'T LOOK THAT BAD AT THIS POINT, WHAT'S THE OLD SAW, KNEE HIGH BY THE FOURTH OF JULY BEFORE THE CORN?

IT DOESN'T LOOK BAD BUT IS RIGHT NOW A CRUCIAL TIME?

>> IT REALLY IS, RIGHT NOW IS IMPORTANT FOR THE CROP REALLY AS IT MATURES AND WE SAY IT LOOKS GREAT FROM THE ROADS BUT AS YOU GET IN THERE AND I WALKED THE FIELDS YESTERDAY AND HOW THE CROP IS DEVELOPING AND IT'S A CONCERN FOR A LOT OF THE STATE.

WE'RES ALSO IN A SPOT WHERE IF WE GOT SOME NICE RAINS RIGHT NOW THE CROPS WOULD WORK.

REALLY IT'S BEEN POPCORNING AROUND THE STATE SO WE HAVE SOME PLACES THAT LOOK GOOD BUT IT'S A CONCERN.

>> Eric: WHEN MILK PRICES ARE BELOW COST OF PRODUCTION ARE THERE SUBSIDIES FOR FARMERS?

>> YEAH, THANKS TO COLLIN PETERSON WE DO HAVE A SAFETY NET THAT'S GOING TO KICK IN.

IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

DAIRY PRICES ARE AT ABOUT A FIVE-YEAR LOW AT LEAST MAYBE EVEN GOING BACK MANY YEARS.

BUT SINCE THEY WROTE THE FARM BILL, PAYMENT WAS JUST ANNOUNCED THAT WOULD BE COMING FROM THAT AND THAT WILL HELP AND THE COST GETS FROM THE FEED TO THE PRICE, IT KICKS N AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE SEE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE FELL UNDER 2,000 DAIRY FARMS IN THE STATE FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR AND I TAKE THAT PERSONALLY AND WE TRY TO LOOK AND SEE WHAT WE DO, NOT UNIQUE TO MINNESOTA BUT JUST KIND OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.

>> Cathy: GOING BACK TO THE DROUGHT FOR JUST A MOMENT I KNOW THERE WILL PROBABLY BE RELIEF THAT WILL BE NEEDED, RIGHT?

DEPENDING UPON THE WEATHER OF COURSE BUT THERE'S STILL LAST YEAR'S DROUGHT TO CONTEND WITH , SO WHERE'S THAT MONEY?

>> YEAH, AND WE REALLY LOOK AT NOT JUST LAST YEAR BUT TWO YEARS AGO, 2021 WE HAD A VERY BAD DROUGHT AND IT TOOK US AWHILE FOR THE LEGISLATURE REMEMBER IN 2022 THE AG BILL IS ONE OF THE FEW BILLS THAT PASSED IN A NONBUDGET YEAR SO FARMERS THAT'S THE WAY A LOT OF TIMES IT GETS, THAT'S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE FARM BILL WITH DROUGHT RELIEF, FARMERS ARE ALWAYS GETTING PAID A YEAR LATER SOMETIMES FOR THAT.

WE'RE HOPEFUL, WE HAVE LOANS, NOT THAT FARMERS NEED ANOTHER LOAN, WE HAVE ZERO INTEREST LOANS, SOMETIMES FARMERS CAN ACCESS THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> Eric: MINNESOTA HAS A VERY GOOD REPRESENTATION ON THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEES IN CONGRESS.

DOES THAT HELP US AS YOU TRY TO HAVE INPUT INTO THE FEDERAL FARM BILL?

>> ABSOLUTELY, WE'RE ONE OF HE FEW STATES THAT HAS BOTH SENATOR KLOBUCHAR WHO'S THE SECOND RANKING MEMBER ON THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE AND SENATOR SMITH AND IF YOU GO INTO THE HOUSE HAVING BRAD FINSTAD WHO I THINK HAS DONE A GREAT JOB GETTING INTO THE FARM BILL DISCUSSIONS AND THEN NGIE CRAIG IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE VOICES AND SO WE'RE WELL REPRESENTED.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU NEED OUT OF THE FEDERAL FARM BILL?

>> ALWAYS SAY IT COMES DOWN TO SAFETY NET.

WHEN YOU HAVE DROUGHT AND THINGS LIKE BAD PRICES WITH DAIRY LIKE WE'RE SEEING NOW THAT THEY HAVE A SAFETY NET AND THAT'S ALWAYS A NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, PART OF THAT BILL INCLUDES EXPANSION FOR BROADBAND IN URAL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY INCLUDING MINNESOTA, HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT?

>> BROADBAND IS SUPER IMPORTANT AND EXCITING.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE SEE IS MORE AND MORE FARMERS DOING DIRECT MARKETING, AND SO WE HAVE MORE AND MORE FARMERS SETTING UP THEIR OWN WEBSITES, RUNNING BASICALLY A SMALL BUSINESS, AND EOPLE IN THE TWIN CITIES HERE OR WHEREVER PURCHASING PRODUCTS SO HAVING A WEBSITE IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

ALL THE EQUIPMENT THAT RUNS ON FARMS NOW USES BROADBAND.

AND SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE, I LIVE IN PINE COUNTY, I ALWAYS MAKE A PITCH BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THE TOUGHEST COUNTIES FOR BROADBAND AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK BUT INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO AGRICULTURE.

>> Eric: WHAT DO THEY SAY, I DON'T GAMBLE, I'M A FARMER?

>> EXACTLY, GOT TO BE AN OPTIMIST AND YOU GOT TO FIGURE IT OUT, YEP.

>> Eric: THANKS, COMMISSIONER.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

♪♪ >> Cathy: EARLIER THIS YEAR, ST. PAUL JOINED A GROWING NUMBER OF CITIES ACROSS THE U.S. PURSUING RACIAL REPARATIONS.

WHAT MAKES THE CITY'S APPROACH UNIQUE IS A COMMISSION THAT IS A PART OF OFFICIAL CITY GOVERNMENT.

THE 11-MEMBER COMMISSION WILL ADVISE THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR REGARDING ISSUES OF INEQUITY FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN DESCENDANTS OF SLAVERY.

THE GROUP IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ITS WORK THIS SUMMER.

MAYOR MELVIN CARTER JOINS US WITH AN UPDATE.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON THE HOW AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU MUCH.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: THE PLURALITY OF AMERICANS EVIDENTLY DON'T BELIEVE THAT DESCENDANTS OF SLAVES DESERVE REPARATIONS.

WHY DOES THE CITY OF ST. PAUL THINK SO?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S UNDENIABLE THAT EVEN STILL TODAY IN 2023 EVERY ASPECT OF THE AMERICAN ECONOMY INCLUDING WHERE WEALTH IS CONCENTRATED AND WHERE POVERTY IS CONCENTRATED IS HEAVILY INFLUENCED IF NOT STILL SHAPED BY HE HUNDREDS OF YEARS DURING WHICH WEALTH WAS CREATED THROUGH FREE, FORCED LABOR IN OUR COUNTRY.

IT'S PRETTY -- ONE OF OUR MOST BASIC CONCEPTS N AMERICAN SOCIETY, IF I INFLICT HARM UPON YOU AND IT ENRICHES ME THERE'S PROBABLY A DEBT OWED BACK TO YOU.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THIS COMMISSION KIND OF BRINGS BACK RECOMMENDATIONS.

IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT GETS SHAPED AS A POTENTIAL FUTURE FOR ST. PAUL.

>> Cathy: THIS COULD BE A STATE EFFORT, SOME PEOPLE THINK IT SHOULD BE A FEDERAL EFFORT BECAUSE AS YOU BROUGHT UP A LOT OF THE RACIST FEDERAL POLICIES CREATED THIS WEALTH GAP.

BUT YOU'RE TALKING AT THE CITY LEVEL.

>> WE AGREE THERE SHOULD BE A CONVERSATION AT THE CITY LEVEL AND THE STATE LEVEL.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE GET TROLLED ON ON SOCIAL MEDIA I SEE PEOPLE EVERY NOW SAYING THERE WASN'T MUCH SLAVERY IN MINNESOTA, WHICH IS KIND OF A SELF-ANSWERING QUESTION, IF WE'RE SAYING THERE WASN'T MUCH, WE'RE ACKNOWLEDGING THERE IS SOME, AND INDEED THE DRED SCOTTT DECISION ONE OF THE MOST HORRENDOUS DECISIONS IN THE SUPREME COURT HISTORY, THERE WAS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THERE WAS SOME AND WE THINK EVERYBODY SO SHOULD DO THEIR PART.

>> Eric: HOW WOULD CITY DETERMINE WHO'S ELIGIBLE AND WHO ISN'T?

>> AGAIN, THOSE ARE THINGS WE DON'T REALLY KNOW YET, THAT'S PART OF THE QUESTIONS WE'RE ASKING THE REPARATIONS COMMITTEE TO THINK THROUGH AND HELP US HAVE A CITY-WIDE CONVERSATION, PLANTING A CITY-WIDE CONVERSATION TO SAY WHAT ROLE DOES THE CITY HAVE, WHAT RESPONSIBILITY DOES THE CITY HAVE, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, ACTING IN THE MEANTIME BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW WELL WE'VE BUILT PROGRAMS LIKE OUR INHERITANCE FUND WHICH IS DESIGNED TO HELP DESCENDANTS OF OLD RONDO RENOVATE OR PURCHASE A HOME, COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS FOR EVERY CHILD BORN IN OUR CITY.

THIS IS PART OF OUR EFFORT TO ELIMINATE POVERTY BY MAKING SURE FAMILIES HAVE CASH IN THEIR POCKETS.

>> Eric: THIS IS NOT A HIT AND RUN COMMISSION, THIS WILL BE INGRAINED IN CITY GOVERNMENT?

>> IT'S A LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

SO LIKE I SAID IT WILL BE LONG-TERM WORK, I DON'T NECESSARILY EXPECT SOMETHING IMMEDIATE FROM THAT, I THINK WE NEED A VERY THOUGHTFUL AND INTENSE PROCESS TO DETERMINE WHAT TYPE OF RECOMMENDATIONS THEY MAY BRING FORWARD MOVING FORWARD.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED THE RESIDENTS OF OLD RONDO, COULD THIS ALSO INVOLVE THEM?

THERE ARE ALREADY PROGRAMS FOR THEM BUT COULD THERE BE REPARATIONS FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO LOST THEIR FAMILY HOMES OR THEIR BUSINESSES AS 94 EXPANDED?

>> POTENTIALLY, AND IN TRUTH THERE IS A PROGRAM FOR FOR DESCENDANTS OF OLD RONDO WHICH IS JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS OLD, WE JUST LAST MONTH RELEASED FUNDS FOR THE FIRST RECIPIENT OF THAT PROGRAM TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE A HOME.

SO THERE IS A HOME, IT IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING, A HARM FOR WHICH WE'VE APOLOGIZED FOR FOR DECADES WHICH WE'VES RECOGNIZED AS A HARM FOR DECADES WHICH STUDIES SHOW UP TO ABOUT $150 MILLION IN TODAY'S WEALTH WAS STRIPPED FROM OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN OLD RONDO, BUT WE'VE NEVER BROUGHT RESOURCES.

SO WE'VE JUST BROUGHT RESOURCES TO BEAR TO THAT JUST IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS FOR THE FIRST TIME.

>> Eric: SLAVERY IS THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT HERE SO IF YOU'RE LATINO OR ASIAN OR NATIVE AMERICAN, THEY DON'T FIT UNDER THE KIND OF THIS IS REPARATION FORESLAVERY, IS THAT FAIR TO SAY?

>> AGAIN TYPICALLY SPEAKING WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT REPARATIONS IN AMERICA MUCH OF THAT DOES CENTER AROUND DESCENDANTS OF AMERICAN SLAVERY, PARTIALLY THAT'S BECAUSE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR NATIVE COMMUNITIES, INDIVIDUALS IN OUR JAPANESE COMMUNITIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN SO MANY OF OUR OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE RECEIVED PAYMENTS AND REPARATIONS FOR SOME OF THE HARMS THAT OUR COUNTRY HAS INFLICTED UPON DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES BUT, AGAIN, WE'RE REALLY OPEN-ENDED AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THOSE 11 FOLKS ARE AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T DO IS TRY TO BACK FOLKS INTO A CORNER WHEN THEY COME TOGETHER TO BE A PANEL OR OMMITTEE FOR US, WE REALLY WANT THEIR BEST THINKING.

SO THE TRUTH IS I DON'T AVE THE FINAL ANSWERS TO MANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE BRINGING FOLKS TOGETHER TO THINK THEM THROUGH WITH US.

>> Cathy: IS THERE A TIMELINE ON THIS?

>> I DON'T -- I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S A KIND OF A NAILED DOWN TIMELINE AS FAR AS A DELIVERABLE FROM THEM.

MY GOAL S AND MY HOPE AND, AGAIN, THIS PROCESS IS REALLY BEING LED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, MY HOPE IS THAT THAT GROUP OF FOLKS WILL BE INCREDIBLY DELIBERATIVE AND INCREDIBLY THOUGHTFUL IN THEIR PROCESS.

AGAIN, IN THE MEANTIME WHAT OUR ADMINISTRATION IS DOING IS MOVING FORWARD INHERITANCE FUND FOR DESCENDANTS OF OLD RONDO, GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT, COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AND OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO GET DOLLARS IN THEIR HANDS AND MAKE MONEY WORK FOR THEM.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR COMING OVER, E'LL KEEP TRACK OF THIS.

>> I WILL TOO.

>> Eric: THANKS, MAYOR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

♪♪ >> I THINK WE'VE LEARNED THAT MANY OTHER CITIES HAVE -- WHO ARE REALLY AGGRESSIVELY SEEKING IT HAVE MANY MORE LIMITATIONS THAN WE.

FOR EXAMPLE, VERY FEW PEOPLE KNOW THIS, WE HAVE IN PLACE MORE CAPITAL INVESTMENT FOR VENUES TO BE USED FOR THE OLYMPICS RIGHT NOW THAN ANY COMPETING CITY.

IF INDIANAPOLIS CAN GET REAL EXCITED ABOUT ITS PROSPECTS, HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN HOUSTON?

IF HOUSTON IS IN THERE AND DALLAS, I'M SORRY, BUT I THINK MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL ONCE THEY COME HERE, THEY'RE GOING TO SAY THIS IS THE BEST PLACE IN THE COUNTRY TO HOLD IT.

♪♪ >> Eric: TWINS ARE HANGING ONTO FIRST PLACE WITH THREE GAMES -- WELL, TWO AND A HALF GAMES REALLY, THEY'VE ALREADY STARTED TONIGHT'S GAME, BEFORE THE ALL-STAR BREAK.

MINNESOTA WILD'S DEVELOPMENT CAMP IS IN FULL SWING AT THE OTHER END OF DOWNTOWN ST. PAUL.

LYNX STARTED 0-6 ND BUT NOW WITH THEIR 4-GAME WINNING EXTREME NOW JUST A GAME BELOW 500.

ALL OF THIS MEANS ONE THING, LARRY FITZGERALD IS ACK.

WHEN HE'S NOT HERE ON THE ALMANAC SET TALKING SPORTS, YOU CAN HEAR LARRY ON THE RADIO AS PART OF THE NATIONAL PROGRAMMING NETWORK.

HEY, THE PITCHING'S GOOD.

>> BEST IN BASEBALL.

>> Eric: ON THE OTHER HAND, OFFENSE.

>> THE STARTING HAS BEEN THE FOUNDATION TO WHERE THE TWINS HAVE BASICALLY BEEN ON THIS RIDE, THEY'VE BEEN IN FIRST PLACE ALL YEAR, THEY'VE HAD A BIGGER LEAD THAN THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW BUT YOU CAN'T ARGUE WITH THE FORMULA THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO USE.

THE PROBLEM THAT THEY'RE HAVING IS THE CONSISTENCY WITH THE LINEUP, THE INJURIES AND THAT TYPE OF THING.

AND THEN TRYING TO MEASURE HOW GOOD THEY TRULY ARE DAY TO DAY WITH THE TEAMS THAT THEY'RE PUTTING OUT THERE AGAINST BALTIMORE, THEY'RE PLAYING THEM THIS WEEKEND.

>> Eric: ROYALS AIN'T MUCH.

>> I MEAN, THEY BEAT THEM 10 OUT OF 11, SO THEY SAY YOU HAVE TO BEAT THE BAD TEAMS FIRST AND THEY CLEARLY ESTABLISHED THAT.

NOW, CAN THEY FIND A WAY TO BEAT THE YANKEES, CAN THEY FIND A WAY TO BEAT TAMPA, CAN THEY FIND A WAY TO BEAT ATLANTA, WHICH THEY LOST ALL THREE GAMES TO THEM DOWN THERE.

ATLANTA LOOKS LIKE THE BEST TEAM RIGHT NOW IN BASEBALL BUT WE GOT A LONG LONG WAY TO GO.

BUT YOU HAVE TO TIP YOUR HAT TO THE TWINS AND THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, SUSTAINABLE THROUGH THE FOUNDATION OF WHICH THE WAY THEY'VE PUT THEIR STAFF TOGETHER.

AND THEY'RE GETTING, THEY GOT MAEDA BACK AND FIVE, SIX GUYS THEY CAN THROW AT YOU BUT ONLY ONE GUY MADE THE ALL-STAR TEAM AND SO THAT'S A GOOD THING.

>> Eric: OKAY.

>> Cathy: WITH THE DRAFT ARE THE TWINS GOING TO BE BUYERS OR SELLERS?

>> I HOPE THAT THEY GET AGGRESSIVE.

THEY COULD USE ANOTHER BAT IN THAT LINEUP.

THEY STILL STRIKE OUT WAY TOO MUCH, AVERAGING 10, 11 STRIKEOUTS A GAME AND THAT HURTS YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE DEPENDENT ON YOUR PITCHING HOLDING THEIR OPPONENT TO THREE OR LESS RUNS GAME AND YOU JUST CAN'T DO THAT EVERY AME.

BUT I LIKE WHAT I'VE SEEN.

I WAS OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, THIS WEEK I SAW THEM TAKE KANSAS CITY OUT, LOPEZ GETTING HIS FIRST CAREER SHUTOUT, HIS FIRST COMPLETE GAME, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SAYS THAT THE VIKING -- TWINS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY IF THEY CAN KEEP MOVING FORWARD, TO GET TO WHERE THEY WANT TO GO.

>> Eric: ANTHONY EDWARDS WITH THE MAX CONTRACT, NAZ REID SIGNS, WOLVES ROSTER IS PRETTY SET.

>> IF YOU ASK ME THE STRONGEST TEAM IN TOWN, IS IT THE VIKINGS, IS IT THE TWINS -- >> Cathy: IT'S THE AURORA.

>> I'D LIKE TO SAY IT'S THE TIMBERWOLVES.

ABSOLUTELY, ANTHONY EDWARDS IS GOING THIS WAY, THEY HOPE TO HAVE CARL CARL K AR L ANTHONY TOWNS HEALTHY FOR THE WHOLE SEASON.

THAT NAZ REID SIGNING THIS GUY WAS NOT EVEN DRAFTED AND HE'S ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE LEAGUE AND HE'S ONLY 22 YEARS OLD.

IF THEY CONTINUE TO ALLOW THESE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE, THIS NUCLEUS TO GROW TOGETHER WITH EDWARDS BEING THE LEADER THEY'RE GOING TO BE SOMEBODY THAT CAN NOCK AT DENVER'S DOOR AND SAY, HEY, WE CAN PLAY WITH YOU.

>> Cathy: I WAS A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT THE LYNX EARLY ON BUT THEY'VE PUT TOGETHER A FOUR-GAME WINNING STREAM.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, CHERYL REEVE, SHE'S A BLESSING, SHE'S ALREADY WON FOUR CHAMPIONSHIPS, WE KNOW ABOUT THAT.

HER WAY TO MANEUVER AND PUT PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND SHE'S DONE THAT.

THIS TEAM, I SAW THEM EARLY AND THOUGHT THEY DON'T HAVE MUCH WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR FIRST SIX.

THE WNBA IS A MUCH STRONGER LEAGUE TODAY THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN.

WE GOT A TEAM RIGHT NOW IN VEGAS THAT'S 15-1, 10 AT HOME AND THEY'RE WINNING BY AVERAGE OF 15 POINTS A GAME.

THE LYNX ARE DEALING WITH THAT BECAUSE THEY PLAY WHO THE SCHEDULE PUTS IN FRONT OF THEM AND TO WIN 8, LOSE 9, STARTING 0-6, CHERYL REEVE UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE DEAL IS AND NAPHEESA COLLIER, SHE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL.

>> Eric: IS THIS MAR UN KID ANY GOOD FOR THE WILD?

>> I THINK HE CAN BE.

I THINK HE CAN BE SOMEONE THAT CAN GROW.

HE'S, WHAT, 6'3"?

>> Eric: HE'S A LOAD.

>> FROM WISCONSIN -- WELL, HE PLAYED IN WISCONSIN BUT FROM MINNESOTA, HE'S ONE OF OURS.

I HOPE THEY CAN PUT THIS TEAM TOGETHER AND BUILD AROUND FROM THE WILD STANDPOINT IMPROVING THE CENTER POSITION AND THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF GUYS NOW, 6 TO 7 PLAYERS COMPETING AT THAT POSITION AND THAT SHOULD HELP THEM BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE THE WEAKEST.

>> Eric: YOU'RE LOOKIN' GOOD.

>> WELL, THANK YOU.

WORKING AT IT.

>> Eric: LARRY FITZGERALD, EVERYBODY.

>> Eric: LAST WEEK'S U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISIONS ENDING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND COLLEGE DEBT FORGIVENESS ARE REVERBERATING THROUGH COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER TALKED WITH A DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR SPECIALIZING IN RACE AND MEDIA WHO ONCE MADE MINNESOTA HIS HIGHER ED HOME.

HERE'S PART OF MARY'S CONVERSATION WITH HER LONGTIME FRIEND, WHO SHARES HIS PERSPECTIVES ON THESE RULINGS.

>> PROFESSOR LINEAR HOLT, I HEARD FROM YOU AFTER THE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS, WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION?

>> THE SUPREME COURT IS DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND I CAN EVER MEET.

IT'S STAGNATION THROUGH LEGISLATION, I DUB THEE SCOTUS.

>> ARE YOU SURPRISED BY IT?

>> DISAPPOINTED BUT NOT SURPRISED.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COURT AND IT'S 6-3, THE LEGACY OF DONALD JOHN TRUMP EVEN THOUGH HE'S NOT ON THE WHITE HOUSE, THE -- REACH OF ANY PRESIDENT IN HISTORY.

ESPECIALLY YOU THINK HOW LONG THAT WAS IN PLACE, HEY'VE DONE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, ROE V. WADE, THEY'VE DONE TUITION, EVERYTHING'S CHANGING.

>> WHAT IS IT GOING TO MEAN GOING FORWARD FOR DIVERSITY IN UNIVERSITIES?

WE'VE SEEN SOME STATES BACK OFF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND WE'VE SEEN LESS DIVERSE UNIVERSITIES AND ALSO LOAN FORGIVENESS WHICH LOOKED LIKE NUMERICALLY IT WAS GOING TO BE BENEFIT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN GOING FORWARD?

>> IT'S A GREAT TRAGEDY.

HERE'S THE WAY I SEE IT.

BACK IN THE 1980S AND PROBABLY BEFORE THAT, EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF USED TO BE THE BRIDGE FROM BECOMING A HAVE-NOT TOTO BECOMING A HAVE.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE ECONOMIC DIVERSITY?

LET ME JUMP IN BECAUSE THE COURT HAS BEEN SAYING AND CONSERVATIVES HAS BEEN SAYING, NO, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IS NOT OUTLAWED, IT'S JUST SPECIFIC RACE AND YOU CAN USE ECONOMIC BACKGROUND.

>> ECONOMICS AND RACE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INTERTWINED, INASMUCHAS IF YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES RIGHT NOW, AND IMAGINE A PERSON WITH A MANSION AND A $100,000 CAR, IN YOUR MIND YOU THINK IT'S A WHITE PERSON, YOU CAN'T DISENTANGLE THAT.

YOU'RE GOING TO GET A POPULATION THAT MAKES MOST SCHOOLS LOOK LIKE PRIVATE WEALTHY ELITE UNIVERSITIES.

AND THAT'S A GREAT TRAGEDY.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE T-SHIRT?

TELL ME BOUT WHAT YOU'RE WEARING AND WHY?

>> WELL, I FOUND OUT THE CRIMSON, HARVARD AS HEY SAY THEY'RE ACTUALLY ON OUR SIDE.

AND ONE OF THE JUSTICES I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THEY LOOKED AT AND I'M PARAPHRASING HERE BUT HARVARD DISPROPORTIONATELY GAVE AN ADVANTAGE TO PEOPLE OF COLOR.

IN FACT THEY SAID ASIAN KID IN THE TOP QUARTILE WAS LESS LIKELY TO GET IN HARVARD LAW THAN A STUDENT OF LAW IN A LOWER QUARTILE IN TERMS OF ABILITY TO GET INTO THE PROGRAM.

THEY ASSUMES THAT WE HAVE MERITOCRACY IN AMERICA WHERE EVERYONE HAS AN EQUAL CHANCE TO SUCCEED.

GEORGE FLOYD SHOWED AMERICA HAS NOT CHANGED, WHAT I MEAN IS EVERY SINGLE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE BY PEOPLE OF COLOR HAS BEEN MET WITH REBUKE BY BY THE WHITE MAJORITY.

YOU LOOK AT THE KU KLUX KLAN, IT WAS FORMED IN 1865.

FREEDOM FROM SLAVERY, RESPONSE WAS THE KLAN, ALL OF A SUDDEN WE CAN GET ACCESS TO THE SAME THINGS AS WHITE, WE GOT RACIAL SEGREGATION.

WE ELECTED THE FIRST BIRACIAL PRESIDENT, WHAT DID WE GET IN RESPONSE?

DONALD TRUMP.

AFTER GEORGE FLOYD GOT KILLED WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING WHAT CAN WE DO, WHAT CAN WE DO, WHAT DID WE GET IN RESPONSE O HA?

THE RESPONSE WAS SO BAD THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO STOP EDUCATING ABOUT RACE.

>> WHAT ABOUT MEDIA?

YOU ARE A PROFESSOR OF MEDIA, SPECIALIZING IN RACE.

WHAT'S MEDIA'S ROLE AND WHAT HAS MEDIA DONE TO HELP OR HURT THIS SITUATION >> MEDIA IS A VERY WEIRD THING AND THIS IS THE PROBLEM AND CONNECTING THE USTICES' DECISION TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF MEDIA COVERAGE OUT THERE.

>> MEDIA DISPROPORTIONATELY MORE THAN LIKELY SKEWS WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT REALITY.

VERY LITTLE OF WHAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE WORLD NOW COMES FROM FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE.

MEDIA INFLUENCE WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE WORLD.

IT'S NOT YOU ENCOUNTER THESE PEOPLE AND YOU THINK ABOUT THEM, MEDIA INFLUENCE WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO THINK ABOUT THEM BEFORE THEN SO WHEN YOU MEET THEM YOU'RE CONFIRMING OR REJECTING THE STEREOTYPE MEDIA CREATED.

>> AND WE'RE INCREASINGLY N LITTLE VACUUMS WHERE WE'RE CONSUMING MEDIA WE AGREE WITH TOO.

>> OH, YEAH, THAT'S THE THING WE'VE DONE.

WE THOUGHT WHEN WE HAD SOCIAL MEDIA, M SNBC, NBC AND ALL THAT STUFF, HEY, IT'S THE MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS.

NO, WE'VE CREATED OUR INDIVIDUAL FIEFDOMS.

YOU PICK THE MEDIA YOU BELIEVE IN.

>> WHAT ABOUT OUTGOING LEGACY ENTRANCE?

THAT'S WHAT FOLKS ARE SAYING IS THE BEST WAY TO ELIMINATE LEGACY.

>> NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.

NEPOTISM HAS ALWAYS BEEN A THING.

NEPOTISM IS A THING IN THE WORKPLACE, IN OLLEGES, IT'S GOING TO BE ALWAYS BE A THING IN IVY LEAGUE.

IT IS WHITE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.

>> THANK YOU, PROFESSOR HOLT.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

♪♪ WE'RE GOING TO TACKLE ANOTHER OF LAST WEEK'S BIG U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISIONS.

WITH A 5-4 MAJORITY, THE COURT UPHELD THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, A SURPRISE TO MANY OBSERVERS.

IN SHORT, THE COURT REJECTED THE THEORY THAT A STATE LEGISLATURE HAS THE FINAL SAY IN ELECTION LAW, KEEPING IN PLACE THE OVERSIGHT OF THE JUDICIAL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT TO MAKE FINAL DECISIONS REGARDING REDISTRICTING AND THE REJECTED THEORY IN THE CASE, KNOWN IN LEGAL CIRCLES AS "INDEPENDENT LEGISLATURE THEORY," WAS A THE FOCUS OF A LAW REVIEW ARTICLE AUTHORED BY OUR NEXT GUEST, MITCHELL HAMLINE LAW PROFESSOR JASON MARISAM.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, PROFESSOR.

WELCOME.

>> THANKS, HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> Cathy: LITTLE COMPLICATED THIS RULING IS.

AT ISSUE IS GERRYMANDERING OF CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AND THE QUESTION IS THERE A ROLE FOR COURTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM, STATE COURTS SPECIFICALLY, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THEY CALL IT THE INDEPENDENT STATE LEGISLATURE THEORY AND IT'S REALLY ABOUT VOTING THE RIGHTS AND HOW MUCH PROTECTIONS WE GIVE TO VOTING RIGHTS.

NORMALLY WE HAVE DUAL PROTECTIONS, U.S. CONSTITUTION AND THE STATE'S CONSTITUTION.

WHAT THE INDEPENDENT LEGISLATURE THEORY SAID WAS, LOOK, WHEN IT COMES TO VOTING RIGHTS AT LEAST AS O FEDERAL ELECTIONS THE STATE CONSTITUTIONS DON'T APPLY.

YOU DON'T GET ANY OF THAT CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION THERE.

THE SUPREME COURT REJECTED THAT SORT OF EXTREME VERSION.

THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY OF WHAT COMES NEXT BECAUSE THEY SAID, WELL, MAYBE STATE COURTS CAN GO TOO FAR IN THE STATE CONSTITUTIONS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SAY HOW FAR IS TOO AR SO THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE LITIGATION IN THAT SPACE.

>> Eric: I WAS GOING TO SAY IT'S FUZZY ENOUGH I THINK THIS WILL BE A LAWYER HOLTY.

DON'T YOU THINK THERE WILL BE ACTION ON THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY, THERE'S MORE LITIGATION TO COME, WE KNOW THE MOST EXTREME VERSION WAS REJECTED BUT DON'T KNOW MUCH BEYOND THAT.

>> Cathy: YOU WROTE THIS ARTICLE IN A LAW REVIEW THAT BECAME PART OF THE ARGUMENTS REALLY, PART OF THE BRIEFS.

WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THAT?

>> YEAH, ANYTIME YOU WRITE SOMETHING WITH PRACTICAL SIGNIFICANCE FROM AN CADEMIC PERSPECTIVE, IT WAS AN IDEA THAT I HAD IN MY HEAD FOR A WHILE, WAS ABLE TO GET THE ARTICLE OUT AT A TIME WHEN HE SUPREME COURT CASE WAS PENDING ON THE DOCKET SO SOME LITIGANTS AND AMICUS BRIEFS PICKED IT UP.

>> Cathy: WAS THIS SEED IN YOUR HEAD PART OF WHAT YOU DID IN THE AG'S OFFICE?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, SO IN 2020 I HAD THE HONOR OF REPRESENTING THE SECRETARY OF STATE IN A LOT OF THIS LITIGATION OVER HOW TO CONDUCT THAT PANDEMIC ELECTION AND OTHER THINGS, AND IN LITIGATING THAT, WE WERE INVOLVED WITH A LAWSUIT WHERE ELECTORSFOR PROXIMATE CAUSE TRUMP HAD SUED THE STATE AND THAT WAS THE FIRST IN THEIR BRIEFING THAT I SAW THIS THEORY BEING MENTIONED, AND I THOUGHT THAT'S INTERESTING, AND I TUCKED THAT IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD BECAUSE I HAD 48 HOURS TO GET A BRIEF AND ARGUE AT THE COURT OF APPEALS, BUT WHEN I MOVED TO MITCHELL HAMLINE, HAD TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT AND GOT THIS ARTICLE OUT.

>> Eric: IMPACT ON THE 202024 ELECTION?

>> IT CERTAINLY COULD, THE CASE WAS ABOUT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AND WHETHER STATE COURTS CAN SAY, LOOK, THE DISTRICTS YOU'VE DRAWN ARE PARTISAN GERRYMANDERED, THEY'RE NOT FAIR, FAVORING ONE POLITICAL PARTY TOO MUCH AND THE SUPREME COURT LEFT OPEN THE POSSIBILITY THAT STATE COURTS DO HAVE THAT POWER.

IF IT HAD GONE THE OTHER WAY, NEW YORK COULD HAVE COME OUT DIFFERENTLY, IT COULD HAVE AFFECTED OTHER STATES ND COULD HAVE HAD AN IMPACT ON HOW MINNESOTA DRAWS ITS DISTRICTS TOO.

>> Eric: LEGACY OF BUSH-GORE 2000, THAT'S BEEN MENTIONED AS COMPARISON OR PREDECESSOR TOTO THIS.

>> CHIEF JUSTICE REHNQUIST HAD A LINE BACK IN 2000 THAT PLANTED SEEDS FOR THIS THEORY.

AGAIN, STILL THERE'S GOING TO BE LITIGATION BUT THERE ARE ECHOS FROM BUSH-GO IN 20000 THERE.

>> IN MINNESOTA WE'VE HAD DIVIDED GOVERNMENT SO JUDGES DRAWING THE LINES.

THIS WOULDN'T HAVE MUCH OF AN IMPACT IN MINNESOTA >> YEAH, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER FOR MINNESOTA BECAUSE IF THE COURT ACCEPTED THIS THEORY AND SAID THERE'S NO ROLE FOR COURTS, IT'S GOT TO BE THE LEGISLATURE.

WHAT DO YOU DO IF THE LEGISLATURE CAN'T AGREE WE HAVE DIED GOVERNMENT IN MINNESOTA SOMETIMES AND WE'VE HAD STAFF COME IN TO DRAW THE MAPS BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE CAN'T ENACT A MAP AND IF THE COURT WOULD HAVE ACCEPTED THIS EXTREME THEORY THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED INTO QUESTION.

WE DODGED THAT ONE FOR NOW.

>> Cathy: INTERESTING.

WE APPRECIATE YOU SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

>> Eric: THANKS VERY MUCH.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

>> THANKS.

♪♪ >> A WISE WOMAN ONCE TOLD ME THAT MY KIDS AND MY PARENTS HAVE ONE COMMON ENEMY, AND, HONEY, LET ME TELL YOU, THAT PERSON IS E. I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW TRUE THIS STATEMENT WAS UNTIL I VISITED MY FAMILY DOWN IN HOUSTON FOR OUR ANNUAL FOURTH OF JULY BARBECUE.

AS SOON AS MY KIDS CAME THROUGH THE DOOR AND SAW THEIR GRANDMOTHER, THEY BECAME THE MOST COMPLIANT CRITTERS I HAD EVER SEEN.

I ALMOST DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THEM!

I CAN NEVER GET MY DAUGHTER CAMERON TO FINISH ALL HER FOOD.

I TRIED BRIBING HER WITH GIFTS, IPAD, TRIPS TO THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AND NOTHING WORKED.

CAMERON, HONEY, PLEASE, PLEASE, I'M BEGGING YOU, EAT YOUR FOOD!

>> UH-UH!

>> CAMERON, EAT YOUR FOOD.

I CAN NEVER GET MY DAUGHTER TO GO TO SLEEP ON TIME.

SHE KNOWS BEDTIME IS AT 8:00 EVERY NIGHT.

IT'S 9:45 AND SHE'S STILL UP READING A BOOK.

CAMERON, HONEY, PLEASE GO TO SLEEP, YOU NEED YOUR REST!

CAMERON, GO TO SLEEP.

I MAY LOOK LIKE MY MOM, SOUND LIKE MY MOM, SOMETIMES I EVEN ACT LIKE HER, BUT THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO TO GET MY MINNESOTA MUNCHKINS TO COMPLY WITH MY EVERY WISH LIKE THEY DO FOR THEIR GRANDMA.

SO SINCE I CAN'T BEAT 'EM, I GUESS 'LL JOIN 'EM.

CHEERS TO ALL THE GRANDMAS OUT THERE.

♪♪ >> Eric: EARLIER THIS SPRING ABDIRAHMAN KAHIN, CEO AND OWNER OF AFRO ELI AND GRILL RESTAURANTS IN MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL WAS HONORED AS THE 2023 NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESSPERSON.

YEAR.

IT WAS AN AWARDS CEREMONY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION NOTED THAT KAHIN REFLECTS THE BEST OF AMERICAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

IT ALL STARTED MORE THAN TWO DECADES AGO WITH A DESIRE TO SHARE THE TASTE OF AFRICA WITH THE TWINS.

THE FIRST AFRO DELI OPENED IN MINNEAPOLIS' CEDAR RIVERSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD IN 2010, AND THERE ARE NOW FOUR LOCATIONS IN THE TWIN CITIES, INCLUDING THIS ONE IN DOWNTOWN ST. PAUL THAT DOES A ROBUST LUNCH BUSINESS.

KAHIN'S CURRENT PLANS FOR THE CHAIN INCLUDE A FIFTH LOCATION IN THE TWIN CITIES AND EXPANSION OUTSIDE OF MINNESOTA.

ABDIRAHMAN KAHIN JOINS US.

WELCOME, SIR, AND WHAT DID THIS MEAN TO YOU TO GET THIS AWARD?

>> IT'S AN HONOR NOT ONLY FOR ME BUT ALSO FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA BECAUSE I REPRESENT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA WHERE AFRO DELI WAS BORN.

AND I CANNOT, YOU KNOW, EXPRESS HOW BIG DEAL IT WAS FOR ME AND FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> Eric: SURE.

>> Cathy: NOW, I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE NOT A COOK, REALLY.

>> NO, I'M NOT A COOK, BUT I'M A GOOD TESTER.

[ LAUGHTER ] I LOVE THE SMELL OF THE FOOD, I CAN TELL WHICH -- SO, YEAH.

I'M NOT BUT I'M THE BUSINESSPERSON.

I SAY TO MYSELF 'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER AND MY ASPIRATION WAS TO BRING COMMUNITIES ND CULTURES TOGETHER IN AND THE BEST WAY WAS TO COME UP WITH A NICE MENU WHERE PEOPLE CAN ENJOY OVER OUR SHARED VALUES.

>> Cathy: DURING COVID YOU HIRED MORE PEOPLE AND YOU WERE GIVING FREE MEALS AWAY TO ELDERLY AND DISABLED FOLKS IN THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY.

WHY DID YOU DO IT AND ARE YOU STILL DOING IT?

>> OKAY, WHEN THE COVID HAPPENED AND THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED WE'D BE SHUT DOWN TO ALL BUSINESSES ESPECIALLY RESTAURANTS AND I REFUSED TO CLOSE BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO DIDN'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, FAMILIES WHO TAKE CARE.

SO SEEING AS I'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, I KNEW THESE COMMUNITIES AND WE TRIED TO BRING SOME FREE FOOD TO THE ELDERS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE DISABLED LIVING IN THE PUBLIC HOUSING.

AND THEY SAW THE NEEDS.

WE DID LIKE TWO, THREE DAYS FOR FREE AND THEN THEY'D BE CALLING, ARE YOU COMING TOMORROW?

SO THEN I REACHED OUT TO THE STATE, THE CITY AND RESPONDED AND WE BECAME AN EXTENSION OF MEALS ON WHEELS.

>> Eric: YOU'RE A SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR AND I WAS READING ABOUT YOU AND YOU BASICALLY SAID YOUR KEY TO SUCCESS IS HELPING OTHERS.

>> YES, BECAUSE WHEN YOU HELP OTHERS, HELP WILL COME TO YOU.

AND ESPECIALLY AS A RESTAURANT OWNER, I FEEL I'M, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY OVER THE COMMUNITY.

AND I ALWAYS TAUGHT MYSELF HOW TO BE A SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS, NOT JUST THE BUSINESS BUT I LIKE TO PROMOTE OCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP BECAUSE WHEN YOU HELP OTHERS, PEOPLE WILL HELP YOU BACK.

>> Cathy: SO THE EXPANSION PLANS ARE PRETTY EXCITING.

WERE THEY ALWAYS IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND?

>> THIS EXPANSION IS VERY SPECIAL TO ME BECAUSE WHEN THE RIOTS HAPPENED ON LAKE STREET, YOU KNOW, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON LAKE STREET, SO I SAW PEOPLE WERE SAYING BAD THINGS ABOUT LAKE STREET, LAKE STREET WOULD BE DYING, UPTOWN WOULD BE OUT OF BUSINESS, SO I WANTED TO BRING LIFE TO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

BECAUSE IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE BEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: DID YOU DESIGN THE LOGO OF THE RESTAURANT?

BECAUSE WHEN YOU DRIVE BY IT, IT POPS.

>> YES, I DID MEDIA PRODUCTION IN SCHOOL.

>> Eric: OH, YOU DID?

>> YES, SO IT HELPED.

>> Cathy: WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE TO OTHER YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS, ESPECIALLY YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS OF COLOR?

>> YOU KNOW, ENGAGE YOUR COMMUNITY AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE INSPIRED BY YOUR PASSION, JUST DO SOMETHING THAT YOU LIKE AND MAKE SURE YOU REACH OUT TO PEOPLE WHO KNOW BETTER AND ALWAYS BRING PEOPLE WHO KNOW MORE THAN YOU KNOW AND THAT HELPS.

>> Eric: YOU'RE GOING TO BE ASKED TO SPEAK AROUND THE COUNTRY, AREN'T YOU, AS NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESSPERSON?

>> YES, WHEN I'M GIVING BACK THE TROPHY, YES, I ILL TRY TO DO MY BEST TO REPRESENT THE STATE.

>> Eric: CONGRATULATIONS ON THE AWARD AND TREMENDOUS RESTAURANT IN A TOUGH BUSINESS.

ALL THE BEST TO YOU AND THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

♪♪ >> Cathy: WE'RE SPENDING A CHUNK OF THIS SUMMER TAKING A LOOK AT MANY OF THE NEW LAWS PUT IN PLACE BY THE 2023 LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR WALZ.

UP THIS WEEK, MINNESOTA'S NEW FREE COLLEGE TUITION PLAN - THE NORTH STAR PROMISE PROGRAM.

STUDENTS MUST MEET SEVERAL ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS AND COME FROM A FAMILY WITH AN ADJUSTED INCOME UNDER $80,000.

HERE WITH MORE ON HOW THE PROGRAM WILL WORK, THE CHIEF AUTHOR OF THE BILL IN THE HOUSE.

REPRESENTATIVE GENE PELOWSKI IS FROM WINONA.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, Mr.

CHAIR, IT'S BEEN AWHILE.

>> GOOD TO SEE BOTH OF YOU, THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: WHAT ISSUE IS THIS LAW TRYING TO ADDRESS?

>> WELL, THE HIGHER ED BILL OF THIS SESSION IS THE MOST EXPANSIVE HIGHER ED BILL IN MY 38 YEARS AT THE MINNESOTA HOUSE.

SO WE HAD $650 MILLION OF NEW SPENDING.

200 MILLION OF IT WAS ONE TIME, 450 ONGOING.

NOW, YOU MENTIONED ONE PROGRAM, BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL.

WE FROZE TUITION IN THE MINNSTATE SYSTEM, WE REATED TWO PROGRAMS IN THE MINNSTATE SYSTEM FOR BUSINESSES TO CONTRIBUTE MONEY SO THAT THEY COULD EITHER MATCH EQUIPMENT OR INTERNSHIPS OR OTHER ITEMS SO THIS IS ALL ABOUT PROVIDING MINNESOTA WITH A SKILLED WORKFORCE.

>> Eric: TELL US ABOUT THE ENROLLMENT IMPLICATIONS, BECAUSE I KNOW THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN LEAKING A LITTLE BIT OF ENROLLMENT.

>> NOT JUST A LITTLE BIT.

>> Eric: OKAY.

>> I REQUIRED ALL OF THE SYSTEMS THIS SESSION TO PRESENT ENROLLMENT FROM 2013 TO THE PRESENT BY CAMPUS.

SO THAT IS THE MINNSTATE SYSTEM, THE U OF M, AND THE PRIVATE COLLEGES.

AND WHAT WE FOUND OUT, ST.

CLOUD IS DOWN 44%, MORRIS IS IS DOWN OVER 40%.

ALL OF THE CAMPUSES EXCEPT FOR REALLY ONE IS DOWN IN ENROLLMENT.

NOW, THE MAIN CAMPUS OF THE U IS ABOUT LEVEL.

SO THE THRUST OF OUR HEARINGS WERE HOW DO WE TURN THAT AROUND.

AND YOU MENTIONED THE NORTH STAR PROMISE, FREEZING TUITION, AND ALSO INCENTIVE FOR BUSINESSES TO CONTRIBUTE TO MAKE SURE THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE US WITH SKILLED WORKERS.

>> Cathy: TALK ABOUT THIS TUITION PROGRAM, THE MINNESOTA PROMISE PROGRAM.

SO YOU THINK THIS MIGHT PUMP UP ENROLLMENT WITH KIDS WHO ARE NEEDING THE HELP, RIGHT?

>> ONE WAY I KNOW IT'S WORKING IS NORTH DAKOTA'S COMPLAINING ABOUT IT ALREADY.

AND WHEN WE HAVE NORTH DAKOTA ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS COMPLAINING ABOUT IT, I KNOW WE'RE DOING A GOOD THING.

I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE BIG INCENTIVES FOR GETTING YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET A SKILLED EMPLOYMENT AND GO BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE AND WE DESPERATELY NEED THEM.

>> Cathy: WHY IS NORTH DAKOTA COMPLAINING BY THE WAY?

>> THAT THIS IS GOING TO STEAL STUDENTS FROM THEM, WHICH I APPRECIATE GREATLY.

>> Eric: IS THERE GOING TO BE AN ONGOING RAPIDLY EXPANDING COST FOR THIS THING AS MORE AND MORE KIDS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT >> OKAY, NOW YOU BROUGHT UP WHAT I REALLY APPRECIATE.

I'M GOING TO HAVE OVERSIGHT HEARINGS IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER ON HOW THIS 650 MILLION ROLLS OUT.

AND I WANTED AT THE CAMPUS LEVEL AND I ALSO WANT TO SEE HOW THE OFFICE OF HIGHER ED IS SETTING STANDARDS FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM.

THEN IN JANUARY WE'LL HAVE AT LEAST ONE OR TWO HEARINGS IN ANTICIPATION OF THE FEBRUARY 12TH START OF SESSION.

I WANT TO KNOW N DETAIL HOW THE SYSTEMS BY CAMPUS ARE SPENDING THIS MONEY SO THAT IF WE DO HAVE ANY RESOURCES AVAILABLE STARTING FEBRUARY 12TH, WE CAN ASSIST THEM OR IF WE DON'T, HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE CHANGES TO MAKE THIS WORK.

>> Eric: ANY MARCHING ORDERS TO THE MINN SYSTEM LIKE CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION, MAYBE CLOSING CAMPUSES DOWN THE LINE?

THESE ARE ALL POLITICALLY FRAUGHT, I KNOW.

>> I THINK WHAT MINNESOTA'S DONE THIS SESSION IS ONE OF THE MOST HISTORIC CHANGES IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE.

AND I'LL ADD TWO CAVEATS.

FOR THE FIRST TIME BOTH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AND MINNSTATE HAVE PICKED LEADERS FROM INSIDE MINNESOTA.

THE NEW CHANCELLOR IS SCOTT OLSON FROM WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY.

I KNOW HIM VERY WELL, AND THE U INTERIM PRESIDENT IS JEFF ETTINGER, I MET HIM TWO WEEKS AGO.

I BRIEFED HIM ON WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

I AM CONFIDENT HESE TWO ARE GOING TO TURN THINGS ROUND.

>> Eric: WHAT QUALITIES WOULD YOU LOOK FOR?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A PRESIDENT WITH HANDS-ON APPROACH.

WHEN WE ROLLED OUT THE BUDGET EARLIER THE PRESIDENT WAS IN KOREA.

I THINK IF YOU'RE ROLLING OUT A BUDGET WITH 650 MILLION IN NEW MONEY THE LEAST YOU CAN DO IS BE IN THE STATE.

>> Cathy: SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE PRETTY HAPPY SHE'S GONE.

>> I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON THAT, I'M VERY HAPPY WE HAVE JEFF ETTINGER.

>> Cathy: I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE PROMISE PROGRAM.

ARE THERE TAILS TO THIS?

>> THERE WILL BE TAILS AND WE'RE GOING TO MONITOR CLOSELY THE ENROLLMENT OF THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE WE MAY HAVE TO SUBSIDIZE IT.

THAT'S WHY I WANT TO HAVE OVERSIGHT HEARINGS IN THE BEGINNING AND WANT TO MONITOR WHEN IT ROLLS OUT.

>> Eric: SO YOU'RE THINKING THIS IS LANDMARK AT A TIME WHEN HIGHER ED IS UNDER SOME STRESS.

>> LOOKING AT THE DECLINING ENROLLMENT OVER A DECADE AND IT'S ACROSS ALL THREE SYSTEMS, PRIVATE, PUBLIC, AND THE U, WE HAVE TO TURN IT AROUND AND WE HAVE TO TURN IT AROUND TO GIVE MINNESOTA SKILLED WORKERS, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU, Mr.

CHAIR.

THANKS FOR COMING BY.

>> THANK YOU.

ANYTIME, HAPPY TO O IT.

>> Eric: THANKS.

♪♪ >> Eric: FIRST WEEK OF JULY IS OFTEN A TIME FOR GREAT FUN FOR POLITICAL REPORTERS HERE IN MINNESOTA AS THEY DIVE INTO DETAILS OF NEW LAWS THAT HAVE JUST BEGUN AND THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION CERTAINLY PROVIDED HOURS OF FUN FOR THE CURRENT CAPITOL PRESS CORPS AND JOINING US ARE TWO OF THE MANY REPORTERS WHO TOIL AWAY AND PROVIDE READERS AND VIEWERS WITH FASCINATING FACTS AND PRACTICAL POLICY IMPLICATIONS.

YOU CAN CATCH JOHN CROMAN'S POLITICAL WORK ON KARE-11 TV.

AND WE WELCOME MICHELLE GRIFFITH, WHO COVERS POLITICS FOR THE ONLINE NEWS SITE MINNESOTA REFORMER.

JOHN, THERE'S A $352 MILLION MISTAKE IN THE TAX CUT BILL?

>> THAT'S NEWS TO ME BUT THANK YOU FOR TELLING ME.

[ LAUGHTER ] THAT'S HOW THE SESSION HAS BEEN, I MEAN IT WENT SO FAST WE HAVE A LOT OF NPACKING TO DO.

>> Eric: THE REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING THAT THIS AND OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE SESSION IS IT WAS A CONSEQUENCE OF RECKLESS LEGISLATING.

>> YEAH, SOMEONE MENTIONED THE ACRONYM LFG, WHICH I THINK STANDS FOR LIGHTNING FAST GOVERNMENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND THE DEMOCRATS I THINK WERE JUST IN THE PAST WHEN WE HAD A TRIFECTA WE DIDN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT AND THEY WERE DETERMINE TODAY MAKE IT COUNT THIS TIME.

>> Cathy: MICHELLE, S THIS ERROR GOING TO GET FIXED?

>> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT THE LEADERSHIP IS SAYING, THEY'RE SAYING IT'S A TECHNICAL ERROR AND IT'S SOMETHING THEY WILL PROPOSE RIGHT AWAY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION.

NEXT YEAR.

>> Cathy: OKAY, AND JOHN WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW SOME FOLKS THINK IT WAS JUST THERE WAS A LOT THAT WAS HAPPENING THIS SESSION.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: A LOT CAME OVER MAYBE TOO FAST?

>> YOU KNOW, THIS WAS MY FIRST SESSION HERE IN MINNESOTA SO I DON'T REALLY HAVE A BAROMETER THAT WELL BUT IT WAS VERY FAST AND, YEAH, A LOT GOT DONE AND I WASN'T EXPECTING THAT, TO BE HONEST.

SO IT WAS QUITE A BIT TO JUMP INTO.

>> Eric: WHAT ABOUT ALL THESE LAWSUITS?

NOT A LOT, THREE OF LAWSUITS BY GROUPS, DRUG COMPANIES ARE UPSET AND VOTING RIGHTS FOLKS ARE UPSET.

>> RIGHT, IF YOU CAN'T STOP A BILL IN THE LEGISLATURE YOU TRY TO STOP IT IN THE COURTS.

THEY MAY HAVE MERIT.

RIGHT NOW THE PEOPLE THAT WROTE THOSE BILLS ARE NOT COMMENTING EXCEPT THAT THEY'RE CONFIDENT IT WILL WITHSTAND A COURT CHALLENGE.

WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES BUT LIKE TODAY I COVERED A VOTER REGISTRATION THING TODAY FOR FORMER FELONY OFFENDERS THAT CAN NOW VOTE WHILE STILL ON PAROLE AND THAT'S SUBJECT TO A COURT CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW AND STEVE SIMON SECRETARY OF STATE SAID HE CAN'T TALK ABOUT THE MERITS BUT HE CAN SAY THAT HE THINKS IT'S GOING TO SURVIVE.

SO IT'S A CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION AND WHETHER FULLY DISCHARGED MEANS ARE YOU DONE WITH YOUR SENTENCE WHEN YOU WALK OUT OF THE DOOR OF THE PRISON OR ARE YOU DONE WHEN YOU PAY YOUR RESTITUTION AND DO YOUR PROBATION, SO.

>> Eric: YOU LOOKED AT HUMAN SERVICES DURING THE SESSION.

>> YES.

>> Eric: TELL US ABOUT THAT, THAT'S BEEN BROKEN UP INTO TWO OR THREE ENTITIES AND A TON OF DOUGH SPENT.

>> YEAH, IT WAS A LUGE BILL AND I THINK ONE OF THE MORE SIGNIFICANT PROVISIONS IN IT IS THE CREATION OF A NEW DEPARTMENT ALTOGETHER.

SO THEY DECIDED TO CREATE THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES.

AND SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE UP A BUNCH OF RESPONSIBILITIES FROM OTHER AGENCIES THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, FAMILY INVOLVEMENT RIGHT NOW, AND THEN IT WILL TRANSITION TO THIS NEW DEPARTMENT.

AND THE IDEA IS JUST TO HAVE KIND OF A MORE LIKE FAMILY FOCUSED ENTITY.

>> Eric: WITH THE FEEDING OUR FUTURE IF IF FIASCO WHICH HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS APPARENTLY GOT MISUSED, IS THERE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SOME OF THESE, INCREASED ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS THROUGH THE HUMAN SERVICES BILL?

>> YEAH, WELL, I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE ABOUT THE HUMAN SERVICES BILL BUT THE EDUCATION BILL CREATED A NEW OFFICE OF I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT NAME BUT IT'S KIND OF AN OFFICE OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO OVERSEE FUNDS THAT ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED TO VARIOUS NON-PROFITS TO AVOID A POTENTIAL FEEDING OUR FUTURE CASE.

>> Cathy: WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE SOUTHWEST LIGHT RAIL FIASCO IN TERMS OF THE AUDIT CAME OUT LAST WEEK, THIRD OF FOUR AUDITS, I BELIEVE.

AGAIN, THAT'S KIND OF A MESS.

WILL THE LEGISLATURE LEAP INTO THAT NEXT SESSION?

>> THEY MAY.

THE DIFFERENCE WITH THAT IS REPUBLICANS HAVE GENERALLY BEEN AGAINST THAT TYPE OF TRANSIT, THEY THINK IT'S 1895 TECHNOLOGY AND THE DIFFERENCE NOW IS THAT TO DEMOCRATS, VERY HIGHLY PLACED DEMOCRATS DIBBLE AND HORNSTEIN, ARE NOT HAPPY WITH HOW IT'S BEING BUILT AND COST OVERRUNS AND ROUTING ITSELF AND THINGS HAT WEREN'T SEEN.

BUT THE PEOPLE BUILDING IT ARE SAYING YOU JUST DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT HOW THESE THINGS WORK AND THESE ARE HUGE HUGE PROJECTS AND THE BIG DIG IN BOSTON HAD MORE PROBLEMS THAN THIS.

SO THAT'S THEIR RESPONSE.

I MEAN CHARLIE ZELLE WHO'S THE HEAD OF THE MET COUNCIL HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO WALK THIS FINE LINE.

BUT THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO FIND THIS HALF HALF-BILLION DOLLARS THAT THEY'RE SHORT AT SOME POINT AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LIKE TRY TO CONVINCE THE PUBLIC THAT IT'S BETTER TO FINISH IT THAN TO THROW OUT WHAT THEY'VE DONE.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED THE MET COUNCIL, DO YOU THINK IT HAS A TARGET ON ITS BACK THIS COMING SESSION IN TERMS OF MAYBE THERE'S BEEN EFFORTS IN THE PAST TO ELECT MET COUNCIL MEMBERS?

I WONDER IF THAT HAS LEGS.

>> IT MAY, THERE'S APPETITE EVEN WITH SOME DEMOCRATS TO REORGANIZE OR APPOINT IT BY CITIES AND COUNTIES RATHER THAN ALL BY THE GOVERNOR SO THERE'S MORE KIND OF A REGIONAL BALANCE IS THE WAY THEY PUT IT SO YOU MIGHT SEE THAT.

THIS SESSION TO ME WAS JUST KIND OF BLINDINGLY FAST AND WE, I MEAN, THEY HAD ALL THESE PENT UP THINGS THEY'D WANTED TO DO IN DIVIDED LEGISLATURE AND YOU ALL REMEMBER OUR STORIES ALWAYS ENDED WELL, MICHELLE WON'T REMEMBER BUT OUR STORIES ALWAYS REMEMBERED PASSED THE DEMOCRATIC CONTROLLED HOUSE BUT YET TO RECEIVE A HEARING IN REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED SENATE.

THIS YEAR THEY JUST WENT AFTER IT, ALL THESE THINGS LIKE FELON VOTERS, IMMIGRANT DRIVER'S LICENSES, ALL THESE PENT-UP BILLS THAT HAD BEEN D.F.L.

PRIORITIES FOR A LONG TIME SUDDENLY BECAME REALITY.

>> Eric: THE MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION BILL FULLY FORMED OR IS THAT GOING TO NEED A BILL EVERY YEAR TO TWEAK IT?

>> I CAN'T REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD BUT PART OF THE TAX PORTIONS OF THE BILL HAVE ALREADY GONE INTO EFFECT.

SO BUT THE ONE THAT EVERYONE CARES ABOUT, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUAL POSSESSION GOES INTO EFFECT IN AUGUST.

SO IT WAS A BIG CHANGE ND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE SENATE WAS KIND OF SHAKY ON AT THE BEGINNING, BUT ULTIMATELY THEY WERE ABLE TO KEEP THEIR 34 MAJORITY.

>> Eric: THIS IS YOUR FIRST SESSION HERE SO YOU HAVE NO BASIS FOR COMPARISON OF THE PAST, BUT HOW DID YOU FIND MINNESOTA LAWMAKING?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT?

>> YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY IT'S EXCITING.

I MEAN, IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE ALL THESE INTEREST GROUPS AT THE CAPITOL AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GETTING WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR.

AND I'VE NEVER REALLY SEEN THAT BEFORE, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A TYPICAL GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, LIKE HEDGE.

BUT NOW IT WAS QUITE AN IMPACT.

>> Eric: AND WHAT ABOUT HE, ALL THE NATIONAL PRESS MINNESOTA'S GETTING AND WHAT'S GOVERNOR WALZ UP TO?

>> YEAH, I DON'T KNOW, E KEEP ASKING HIM, WHAT ARE YOU REALLY RUNNING FOR NOW?

OF COURSE NOTHING, HE'S JUST TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT THAT WE DID THINGS RIGHT IN THIS STATE IN THE WAYS HE SEES IT.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

MY FAVORITE BILL OF THE SESSION OF COURSE WAS THE FINAL BAN ON COMMERCIAL TURTLE TRAPPING, BECAUSE WE ALL LOVE TURTLES AND THEY BASICALLY SAID YOU CAN'T TRAP THEM AND ELL THEM ALL OVER THE WORLD NOW.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT A SIX-WEEK 2024 SESSION?

>> SURE, LET'S DO THAT.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Cathy: HE'S BEEN TRYING TO PUSH THIS.

>> THE ES COLA SESSION.

>> Eric: THANKS, GUYS.

VERY, VERY GOOD.

>> Cathy: THANKS SO MUCH.

♪♪ >> Cathy: TIME HAS NEARLY ESCAPED US.

BUT WE DO HAVE A FEW MOMENTS FOR A LITTLE BIT OF MINNESOTA HISTORY.

HERE'S THE SHORTENED VERSION.

QUESTION WE ASKED TWO WEEKS IN A ROW.

IT'S LATE DECEMBER OF 1982.

A RARE EVENT TAKES PLACE OUTSIDE THE U. S. INVOLVING A WELL-KNOWN MINNESOTAN AND AN EVEN MORE WELL-KNOWN CANADIAN.

15,000 PEOPLE WITNESS THIS "INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT" AND NEARLY ALL OF THEM TAKE THE SIDE OF THE NON-MINNESOTA PARTICIPANT.

OUR QUESTION WAS: WHAT MINNESOTAN WAS INVOLVED IN A RARE "INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT" IN DECEMBER 1982?

THE SECOND TIME WE ASKED, THE PRODUCERS ADDED A LOT OF HINTS.

BUT FOR THESE TWO CALLERS, THAT DID NOT TRANSLATE INTO A RIGHT ANSWER.

"HI, YEAH, THIS IS JERRY FROM MINNEAPOLIS, AND I THINK IT WAS SCOTT LEDOUX, THE HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHTER.

THANK YOU."

"I DON'’T REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT THIS INCIDENT, BUT I'’M GONNA GUESS IT INVOLVES A HOCKEY GAME WITH ONE OF THE CANADIAN TEAMS AND THE NORTH STARS, AND IT MUST HAVE BEEN A FIGHT THAT NEAL BROTEN WAS INVOLVED IN.

THANK YOU.

THIS IS JOE FROM PUPOSKY."

>> Cathy: THANK YOU, JOE.

YOU WERE SO CLOSE.

LAST WEEK'S EXTRA HINTS DID LEAD TO MORE THAN 38, EXCEPT FOR FRIENDS CHRIS AND GARY, OF YOU CONTACTING US WITH THE CORRECT ANSWER.

HERE'S THE STAFF FAVORITE.

"HELLO!

SINCE NONE OF YOUR MINNESOTA VIEWERS WERE ABLE TO ANSWER LAST WEEK'S INDEX QUESTION, I DECIDED THAT I, A VISITOR FROM NEW MEXICO, SHOULD OFFER MY ASSISTANCE WITH THIS MATTER.

WHAT HAPPENED ON DECEMBER 22ND, 1982, WAS A BRIEF FIGHT DURING A NORTH STARS HOCKEY GAME.

THAT'S WHEN CANADIAN WAYNE GRETZKY, WITH THE EDMONTON OILERS, GOT INTO A TUSSLE WITH MINNESOTA'S NEAL BROTEN.

GRETZKY DEMONSTRATED THAT HE WAS A MUCH BETTER HOCKEY PLAYER THAN HE WAS A FIGHTER, BUT THE WORLD'S GREATEST PLAYER WAS POPULAR EVEN WITH HIS OPPONENTS, AND THIS INCIDENT RESULTED IN SOME OF BROTEN'S OWN MINNESOTA TEAMMATES THREATENING HIM TO DEATH.

THIS ANSWER TO YOUR INDEX QUESTION IS COMING FROM A MAN WHO NEVER SAW A NORTH STARS HOCKEY GAME, BUT I KNOW HOW TO GOOGLE.

THIS IS BOB, ON HIS WAY BACK TO LAS CRUCES.

THANKS.

BYE NOW!"

>> Cathy: BOB!

GOOD JOB, BOB, YOU ARE CORRECT.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE FINE DETAILS.

HERE'S AN IMAGE OF THE INFAMOUS NEAL BROTEN WAYNE GRITSKY FIGHT.

FROM A BLURRY VIDEO.

HOPE YOU HAD A SAFE DRIVE BACK TO LAS CRUCES... AND WE HOPE YOU TUNE IN FROM NEW MEXICO, YOU CAN WATCH THE LIVESTREAM EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT ON OUR WEBSITE.

TPT.ORG/ALMANAC.

NOW IS THE TIME FOR OUR SHOW ENDING MUSIC.

THIS WEEK BACK IN 1998, VIOLINIST GIL SHAHAM PLAYED HIS PRIZED STRADIVARIUS ON NEWSNIGHT MINNESOTA.

TAKE A LISTEN.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY: GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH WHILE ADVANCING SOCIAL EQUITIES.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

AND EDUCATION MINNESOTA, THE VOICE FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

"ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.